CATEGORIES

ORIGIN

This 1988 BMW M5 is one of 30 black over black US-spec examples delivered in 1988. The seller acquired the car in 2014, and the first three owners were reportedly in the same family. Equipped with an S38B35 3.5-liter inline-six and a 5-speed manual transmission, this E28 M5 shows 186k miles and is said to be unmodified. The seller has added 12k miles and regularly serviced the car, with recent work including a valve adjustment and synchronizing the throttle bodies. It is offered with service records from 2014, a clean Carfax report, and a clean California title in the seller’s name.

The black finish is believed to have been at least partially repainted and some imperfections are shown in the photos. The driver’s front fender is a replacement as it has a different VIN stamping and the VIN tag on the hood was also painted over. Areas of the finish on the fuel door, spoiler, and below the rear glass have been worn down from polishing.

Only 30 North American M5’s are believed to have been delivered new with black leather upholstery. The original cracked dash was replaced and the factory stereo was recently refurbished. All instrumentation and features are said to work, including the A/C. The odometer reads 186k miles, and a Carfax indicating a mileage discrepancy is shown below.

The heated and electrically adjustable sport seats show some creasing and bolster deformation, though no rips or seam separations are visible. The seller notes that the sunroof ceiling cover has some tears.

The 3.5L inline six was rated at 256hp when new and is paired to a 5-speed manual transmission. A June 2017 service included a valve adjustment, cleaning the valve cover and intake system, and adjusting and synchronizing the individual throttle bodies to factory specifications. The seller reports that compression results, in psi, from front to back are 160, 182, 177, 155, 176, and 174. The seller has provided detailed service records here.